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One East Midlands publishes policy briefing on LEPs

Loaded:Sat, 31/08/2013 - 15:03

One East Midlands has published a revised policy briefing on Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and their role in the 2014-20 EU Funding Programme.

LEPs have a rapidly expanding role in driving the local economic growth agenda. From 2014 this role will include developing investment strategies for European Structural Funds investment in business growth, skills, inclusion and rural development.

LEPs were originally created as private sector-led public:private sector partnerships. As a result current VCS engagement with LEPs is minimal. However, their future role is rapidly expanding into areas such as:

skills for employment,

community-led local development,

economic and social inclusion,

environment and climate change,

social innovation,

ICT and digital inclusion and

youth unemployment

Many of these priorities impact on the work of VCS organisations or on the people and places that VCOs support. The briefing aims to help you understand LEPs and their future role and help prepare you for future engagement.

The Government’s Autumn Statement 2012 significantly strengthened the role of Local Enterprise Partnerships LEPs. This briefing also provides a summary of the vision for LEPs, their role in the future of EU funding, implications for the VCS and dates and milestones to be aware of.